Habonim Dror Camp Moshava, a progressive summer camp for children grades 3 to 12, many from Baltimore, will celebrate its 90th anniversary on Oct. 12 at its campgrounds in northern Maryland.
“I think it’s going to be a day for people who care about Mosh to come together and enjoy seeing friends, a chance to explore camp and see what has changed, what has stayed the same, and to learn about how they can stay a part of Mosh for the next hopefully 90 years,” said Abby Cohen, co-executive director of Camp Moshava, in an interview with Baltimore Jewish Times.
A typical day at Habonim Dror Camp Moshava during the summer starts with breakfast, then the raising of the Habonim Dror flag, listening to the day’s announcements and singing Mosh songs. Cohen said that the celebration is going to be exactly that.
“It’s going to feel like a day at camp,” said Cohen, who has worked at Habonim Dror Camp Moshava since 2013. “For the people who are alumni coming back, it’ll be a very familiar feeling.”
However, the day is set to start later than a typical camp day. Instead of breakfast in the dining hall, event goers will enjoy a picnic lunch before Hitkansut Boker (morning flag raising).
Following the announcements around the flagpole, Cohen said attendees will break out into small discussion groups for a variety of topics such as Sukkot, the history of Habonim Dror Camp Moshava and a talk on the future of progressive Zionism led by a camp alum.
After the first block of activities, Cohen said, since many who will be in attendance will be alumni, they will do what the camp calls Mishpachot, a tradition for the camp during the summer on Saturdays.
“During camp, the kids are divided into groups based on their geographical area, [such as] their ZIP codes, so that kids get to know other kids who live in the same area,” Cohen explained. “But for this event, we’re thinking we’re going to do it by decades that you attended camp.”
Cohen knows many of the attendees will want the chance to reconnect with other alumni. She said, “That’s their time.”
Part of the celebration will also serve as a fundraising effort for the Jewish camp. One of the activities they have planned will be a raffle with items mainly donated by alumni.
“We’re collecting stories from our alumni that will be available online for them in [a] memory book,” said Cohen. The memory book will be titled “90 Years of Stories About Mosh.” “Through our fundraising literature, we’re going to share stories about Mosh’s history and remind people why it’s so important that Mosh continues for another 90 years,” Cohen added.
The day will also include a talent show, a softball game and a tour of the camp’s serpentine barren, an endangered grassland/savanna ecosystem.
According to the Cherry Hill Barrens at Camp Moshava website, conservation efforts to protect the area were started by former campers and volunteers. Since then, there has been a long-standing program to continue to restore the serpentine barrens ecosystem. During the summer, campers have opportunities to hike through the serpentine and participate in conservation efforts.
“I think that [Habonim Dror Camp Moshava] is incredibly important because it’s a place where kids can come and be presented with different viewpoints. They have the ability to do critical thinking and to explore their Jewish identity,” said Cohen. “It’s a safe place to bring different ideas. I think Mosh lets kids ask the questions that maybe aren’t always welcome in other spaces, and gives them the opportunity and the skills to think critically about these issues facing the Jewish community today.”
The celebration will also mark one year since the opening of the camp’s new building, named in honor of former Executive Director Rachel Glaser, who passed away in 2022.
“It’s an especially important place for kids to be able to come to camp each summer and enjoy being Jewish and learn all the [Jewish] values,” said Cohen. “It’s just exciting to be able to celebrate all these years and to encourage people to think about the future and to continue to support [Habonim Dror Camp Moshava] and send their kids to camp.”
